15 Easy Ways to Detect the Hidden Signs of Kidney Pain
The kidneys are vital organs that filter waste and excess fluid from the blood to produce urine. Beyond this, they play a crucial role in regulating blood pressure, balancing minerals, producing essential hormones, and maintaining bone strength. Kidney pain can arise from various causes, including kidney stones, urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, injury, trauma, or renal cancer. However, distinguishing kidney pain from back pain, which is often caused by issues with bones, nerves, or muscles, can be challenging. While kidney pain is typically felt deep in the flank area, back pain from nerve issues is often localized to one side. With back pain being more common than kidney pain among the general population, understanding the differences is essential. To provide greater insight, we’ve expanded our list to explore 15 causes and symptoms of kidney pain, helping readers better identify and address this condition.
1. Location Of Pain
The location of pain can provide a better idea of whether an individual is experiencing pain in their kidneys or another tissue in the body. The main area where kidney pain is known to occur is in an individual's flank, which refers to the middle to upper back on either side of the spine. Pain in the kidney feels more like it is coming from deep inside of the body rather than a painful sensation that occurs just under the skin. The pain location may be described as the lower back part of an individual's ribcage, as the kidneys are located in that region. Kidney pain can occur on just one or both sides of an individual's spine, depending on its underlying cause. Kidney pain has also been known to manifest in the middle of an individual's sides a couple of inches above the navel. Pain that occurs due to other issues an individual may have in their back will be located underneath the region where kidney pain typically manifests. Changes in position can make a large difference in back pain, but position changes typically do not significantly alter the severity or location of pain when it is due to the kidneys.
